Random sampling for geophysical acquisitions

ABSTRACT

The presently disclosed technique includes a method for geophysical survey having at least one source and one receiver, wherein the survey has two sets of survey locations within the survey area, one set of survey locations for the source(s) and the other set of survey locations for the receiver(s), wherein the survey locations in one set are randomized.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/419,139 filed Dec. 2, 2010, entitled, “Random sampling for geophysical acquisitions”, and filed in the name of the inventors Nicolae Moldoveanu and John Quigley.

This is a continuation-in-part of United States Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/650,319 filed Dec. 30, 2009, entitled, “RANDOMIZATION OF DATA ACQUISITION IN MARINE SEISMIC AND ELECTROMAGNETIC ACQUISITION”, and filed in the name of the inventors-Nicolae Moldoveanu and Einar Otnes. The earlier effective filing date of that application is hereby claimed for all common subject matter under 35 U.S.C. §120.

The disclosures in the above two applications are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of geophysical survey data acquisition methods. More specifically, the invention relates to methods for acquiring data using randomized sources and receivers.

2. Description of the Related Art

This section of this document introduces various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention described and/or claimed below. It provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. As the section's title implies, this is a discussion of “related” art. That such art is related in no way implies that it is also “prior” art. The related art may or may not be prior art. The discussion in this section of this document is to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

The performance of many geophysical surveys seeking valuable materials, such as hydrocarbon or minerals, often utilized signal sources and signal receivers. The sources generate certain type of energetic signal and receivers collect the signals which may be affected by the earth medium. The collected signals from the receivers are studied to determine the presence or absence of certain materials in the earth medium. Depending on the energy used for the surveys, there can be seismic surveys, Controlled Source Electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys, gravity surveys etc. Depending on the locations of the surveys, there can be surface seismic or borehole seismic surveys, where marine/offshore surveys, land/onshore surveys or transition zone surveys are several surface seismic survey examples, while Vertical Seismic Profile (VSP) survey is an example of borehole seismic surveys. Seismic survey is the most often used survey method in hydrocarbon exploration.

The performance of a marine seismic acquisition survey typically involves one or more vessels towing at least one seismic streamer through a body of water believed to overlie one or more hydrocarbon-bearing formations. WesternGeco L.L.C. currently conducts high-resolution Q-Marine™ surveys, in some instances covering many square kilometers. In many areas of the world hydrocarbon reservoirs located in structurally complex areas may not be adequately illuminated even with advanced towed marine streamer acquisition methods.

For example, the shallow, structurally complex St. Joseph reservoir off Malaysia produces oil and gas in an area that poses many surveying and imaging challenges. Strong currents, numerous obstructions and infrastructure, combined with difficult near-surface conditions, may hinder conventional survey attempts to image faults, reservoir sands, salt domes, and other geologic features.

A survey vessel known as a Q-Technology™ vessel may conduct seismic surveys towing multiple, 1000-10,0000-meter cables with a separation of 25-50 meters, using the WesternGeco proprietary calibrated Q-Marine™ source. “Q” is the WesternGeco proprietary suite of advanced seismic technologies for enhanced reservoir location, description, and management. For additional information on Q-Marine™, a fully calibrated, point-receiver marine seismic acquisition and processing system, as well as Q-Land™ and Q-Seabed™, see http://www.westerngeco.com/q-technology.

To achieve high density surveys in regions having a combination of imaging and logistical challenges, a high trace density and closely spaced streamers may be used. However, this presents the potential of entangling and damaging streamer cables and associated equipment, unless streamer steering devices are closely monitored and controlled. Wide-azimuth towed streamer survey data is typically acquired using multiple vessels, for example: one streamer vessel and two source vessels; two streamer vessels and two source vessels; or one streamer vessel and three source vessels. Many possible marine seismic spreads comprising streamers, streamer vessels, and source vessels may be envisioned for obtaining wide- or rich-azimuth survey data.

Assignee's co-pending application Ser. No. 11/335,365, filed Jan. 19, 2006, discusses some of these. This document discusses shooting and acquiring marine seismic data during turns of linear marine surveys and during curvilinear paths. While an advance in the art, the art continues to seek improvements to marine seismic data acquisition techniques.

The seismic wavefield W generated in seismic surveys is a function of seven independent variables: W=W(t,X _(r) ,Y _(r) ,Z _(r) ,X _(s) ,Y _(s) ,Z _(s)) where:

-   -   t=time;     -   X_(r)=receiver sampling in the inline direction, or in the         direction of the length of the streamer;     -   Y_(r)=receiver sampling in crossline direction perpendicular to         the inline direction;     -   Z_(r)=receiver sampling in depth;     -   X_(s)=source sampling in the inline direction, or in the         direction of the length of the streamer;     -   Y_(s)=source sampling in crossline direction perpendicular to         the inline direction; and     -   Z_(s)=source sampling in depth.

Conventional towed streamer acquisition in 2D, 3D, or wide-azimuth (“WAZ”) surveys is a parallel geometry, i.e., the receiver and the source lines are parallel. In towed streamer parallel marine acquisition the receiver are well sampled in the inline direction and not very well sampled in the crossline direction. For example, the inline receiver sampling might be 3.125 m to 12.5 m whereas the crossline receiver sampling might be 50 m to 200 m. The sources are also better sampled in the inline direction but poorly sampled in the crossline direction. So, inline source sampling might be 18.75 m to 150 m where crossline source sampling is 250 m to 600 m.

One characteristic of parallel geometry is that the data is regularly sampled because the sources and receivers are distributed in a regular grid. For marine towed streamer acquisition the planned (pre-plot) receiver locations can differ from the actual (post-plot) receiver locations despite efforts to control their position due to the effect of marine currents on the streamers. However, the source locations are always very regularly distributed.

This is important because, as one of the bedrock principles of seismic survey design, the sampling must meet what is known in the art as the “Nyquist criteria.” However, recent theoretical studies have shown that, if the seismic data is not sampled according to the Nyquist criteria (which is currently always the case in marine acquisition), it is better to have the data randomly sampled. Recently established principles of “compressive sampling” or “compressed sensing”, prove that reconstruction of images or signals can be done accurately with a smaller number of samples that required by Nyquist theory.

Recent research in theoretical application of compressive sampling to seismic data shows the potential benefits of random sampling for the reconstruction of seismic wavefields, Gilles Hennenfent & Felix J. Herrmann, “Random Sampling: New Insights Into the Reconstruction of Coarsely-Sampled Wavefields” SEG/San Antonio 2007 Annual Meeting, pp. 2575-2579 (2007), and for noise attenuation, Gilles Hennenfent & Felix J. Herrmann, “Simply Denoise: Wavefield Reconstruction Via Jittered Undersampling” 73 Geophysics V19-V28. (2008). However, nobody has yet achieved a mechanism by which such random sampling can be sufficiently achieved during an actual survey.

The art has also begun to develop an alternative to the conventional parallel geometry during acquisition. This was first suggested by Cole, R. A. et al., “A circular seismic acquisition technique for marine three dimensional surveys”, Offshore Technology Conference, OTC 4864, May 6-9, 1985, Houston, Tex., described a concentric circle shooting scheme for obtaining three dimensional marine survey data around a sub-sea salt dome. While perhaps useful when the location of the feature under survey is known, this technique would not be efficient or productive for finding new oil and gas deposits, or for monitoring changes in same if such information is desired.

A great leap in acquisition technology was described in another assignee's co-pending application Ser. No. 12/121,324, filed on May 15, 2008. This reference describes methods for efficiently acquiring wide-azimuth towed streamer seismic data, which is also known as the “coil shooting” technique.

For land seismic surveys, similar advancement in various aspects have been made with assignee's UniQ land system.

While the Q suite of advanced technologies for seismic data acquisition and processing may provide detailed images desired for many reservoir management decisions, including the ability to acquire wide- and/or rich azimuth data, the ability to acquire higher quality marine seismic data with less cost, or to increase the fold while also increasing the diversity of azimuth and offset, are constant goals of the marine seismic industry and would be viewed as advances in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed techniques include methods to acquire geophysical survey data using randomized source locations and receiver locations. The methods can be used in a variety of survey types, such as marine towed cable seismic surveys, Ocean bottom cable seismic surveys, marine seismic surveys with nodes; land seismic surveys with cables or nodes or wireless receivers; transitional zone seismic surveys with cables or nodes or wireless receivers; VSP (vertical seismic profile) surveys; CSEM (Controlled Source Electromagnetic) surveys.

For example, for marine survey, the method comprises randomizing the distribution of receivers and sources during a marine survey acquisition. The apparatus is a marine survey system. The marine survey system comprises: a plurality of sources; a plurality of receivers; at least one survey vessel towing at least one of the sources and the receivers; and at least one controller aboard the survey vessel. In operation, the controller controls the marine survey system during a survey in which the distribution of receivers and sources is randomized during an acquisition.

The above presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is discussed later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A-FIG. 1D depict particular implementations of spread elements as may be used in various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2A-FIG. 2C are a plan, overhead schematic view of one particular embodiment of a single vessel coil shoot, a computerized rendition of a plan view of the survey area covered by generally circular sail lines of the embodiment of FIG. 2A over time during a shooting and recording survey, and an azimuth-offset plot for such a survey, respectively;

FIG. 3A-FIG. 3C illustrate various alternative coil shoot sail lines alternative to those shown in FIG. 2A-FIG. 2B for a coil shoot;

FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C are a plan, overhead schematic view of one particular embodiment of a single vessel coil shoot, a computerized rendition of a plan view of the survey area covered by generally circular sail lines of the embodiment of FIG. 4A over time during a shooting and recording survey, and an azimuth-offset plot for such a survey, respectively;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary portion of survey plan in which the centers of the circles defining the sail lines are uniformly distributed as in the single vessel survey of FIG. 3A-FIG. 3C and the multi-vessel survey of FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C;

FIG. 6 illustrates the randomization of the centers of the circles defining the sail lines in order to randomize the seismic receiver and seismic source locations during a coil shoot survey in accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A-FIG. 7B illustrate randomized seismic receiver locations and randomized seismic source locations, respectively, generated by permitting the receives and sources to drift responsive to environmental conditions such as wind and current;

FIG. 8 is a “snapshot” for one of the vessels as it traverses its respective sail line during the acquisition;

FIG. 9 illustrates a controlled sources electromagnetic survey, according to one particular embodiment; and

FIG. 10-FIG. 11 illustrate aspects of a conventional seismic node acquisition survey to which the present invention may be applied.

FIG. 12 illustrates aspects of a survey system with cables.

FIG. 13 illustrates another arrangement of a survey system with cables.

FIG. 14 illustrates another arrangement of a survey system with nodes, where the nodes are receivers.

FIG. 15 illustrates aspects of a marine survey system with towed sources.

FIG. 16 illustrates aspects of random shot distribution for a 3D VSP offshore survey.

FIG. 17 illustrates another example of optimum shot distribution for the VSP (white contour) and the spiral shooting shot distribution.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, the drawings illustrate specific embodiments herein described in detail by way of example. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. Nothing in this application is considered critical or essential to the present invention unless explicitly indicated as being “critical” or “essential.”

A rich- or wide-azimuth towed streamer survey may be acquired in accordance with the present invention using a single streamer vessel comprising multiple streamers and a minimum of one source array. In certain embodiments the methods include positioning of streamers and/or sources employing positioning apparatus or systems (for example satellite-based systems), one or more streamer steering devices, one or more source array steering devices, and/or one or more noise attenuation apparatus or systems. One system, known as Q-Marine™, includes these features and may be useful in methods of the invention.

It has recently been discovered that coil acquisition geometry can be considered a geometry that provides random sampling of the seismic data if performed with random receiver distribution and random shot distribution. The presently disclosed technique is a method for use in a towed array marine seismic survey comprising randomizing the distribution of seismic receivers and seismic sources during a coil shoot acquisition. The randomizing can be implemented in a number of ways. For example, in one embodiment, randomizing the distribution includes randomizing the positions of the circle centers defining the sail lines. This may be implemented by, for example, distributing the same number of circle centers as would be used in a non-random sampling in a uniform random distribution. In another embodiment, randomizing the distribution includes permitting the streamers in which the seismic receivers are allowed to drift while controlling crossline streamer separation.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures. Various structures, systems and devices are schematically depicted in the drawings for purposes of explanation only and so as to not obscure the present invention with details that are well known to those skilled in the art. Nevertheless, the attached drawings are included to describe and explain illustrative examples of the present invention.

The words and phrases used herein should be understood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the understanding of those words and phrases by those skilled in the relevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase, i.e., a definition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, is intended to be implied by consistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meaning, i.e., a meaning other than that understood by skilled artisans, such a special definition will be expressly set forth in the specification in a definitional manner that directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for the term or phrase.

Turning now to the drawings, the presently disclosed technique employs a seismic spread including a plurality of survey vessels, at least one receiver array, and a plurality of source arrays (or, “sources”). To further an understanding of the present invention, one particular embodiment of the streamer arrays will now be disclosed with respect to FIG. 1A-FIG. 1D.

The spread comprises at least one, and typically a plurality, of vessels that may be categorized by the type of sensors they tow. Some vessels may be referred to as “receiver vessels” in that they tow a respective streamer array, although they may also tow a respective source. For example, the survey vessel 100 in FIG. 1A and the survey vessel 101 in FIG. 1B are “receiver vessels” because they each tow a respective receiver array 105. Because the survey vessel 100 in FIG. 1A also tows a source 110, it is sometimes called a “streamer/source” vessel or a “receiver/source” vessel. The receiver vessel 101 in FIG. 1B omits source and may sometimes be called “streamer only” vessel because it only tows streamers. The vessel 102 in FIG. 1C is a “source vessel” in that it tows only a respective source 110 but no streamers, that is it tows the seismic sources 110 to the exclusion of any streamer arrays. The vessels 102 may also sometimes be called a “source only” vessel.

Focusing on FIG. 1A now, the drawing depicts one particular embodiment of the survey vessel 100, streamer array 105, and seismic source 110 in a plan, overhead view. On board the survey vessel 100 is a computing apparatus 130. The computing apparatus 130 performs two functions. A first function is navigation control, in which the computing apparatus is programmed with the sail lines of the survey vessel 100 that define the survey. A second function is array control in which it controls the streamer array 105 and the source 110 in a manner well known and understood in the art, sometimes modified as described herein. In some embodiments, the computing apparatus 130 may comprise multiple computers. The towed array 105 comprises ten streamers 140 (only one indicated). The number of streamers 140 in the towed array 105 is not material to the practice of the invention.

The present invention admits wide variation in the implementation of the streamers 140. As will be discussed further below, the streamers 140 are “multicomponent” streamers as will be discussed further below. Examples of suitable construction techniques may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,711, U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,223, U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,160, U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,017, U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,607, U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,520, and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/114,773. Any of these alternative multicomponent streamers may be used in conjunction with the presently disclosed technique. However, the invention is not limited to use with multicomponent streamers and may be used with conventional, pressure-only streamers used in 2D and 3D surveys.

At the front of each streamer 140 is a deflector 150 (only one indicated) and at the rear of every streamer 140 is a tail buoy 152 (only one indicated) used to help control the shape and position of the streamer 140. Located between the deflector 150 and the tail buoy 152 are a plurality of seismic cable positioning devices known as “birds” 154. In this particular embodiment, the birds 154 are used to control the depth at which the streamers 140 are towed, typically a few meters.

The streamers 140 also include a plurality of instrumented sondes 156 (only one indicated) distributed along their length. The instrumented sondes 156 house, in the illustrated embodiment, an acoustic sensor 160 (e.g., a hydrophone) such as is known to the art, and a particle motion sensor 162, both conceptually shown in FIG. 1D. The particle motion sensors 162 measure not only the magnitude of passing wavefronts, but also their direction. The sensing elements of the particle motions sensors may be, for example, a velocity meter or an accelerometer.

The sensors of the instrumented sondes 156 then transmit data representative of the detected quantity over the electrical leads of the streamer 140 to the computing apparatus 130. The streamer 140 in this particular embodiment provides a number of lines (i.e., a power lead 164, a command and control line 166, and a data line 168) over which signals may be transmitted. Furthermore, the streamer 140 will also typically include other structures, such as strengthening members (not shown), that are omitted for the sake of clarity.

The relative positions of the survey vessels described above, as well as the shape and depth of the streamers 140, may be maintained during the survey using control techniques known to the art, depending on the embodiment. Where such control is exerted, any suitable technique known to the art may be used. Suitable techniques include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,223, U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,017, U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,607, U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,520, and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/114,773.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, the source 110 typically will be implemented in arrays of individual sources. The source 110 may be implemented using any suitable technology known to the art, such as impulse sources like explosives, air guns, and vibratory sources. One suitable source is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,482, incorporated by reference below. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A simultaneously shoots several of the individual sources in the array of the source 110. Accordingly, care should be taken so that their signals can be separated during subsequent analysis.

There are a variety of techniques known to the art for source separation and any such suitable technique may be employed. Source separation may be achieved by a source encoding technique in which one source is coherent and another source is incoherent in a certain collection domain, such as common depth point, common receiver or common offset. Another way source separation technique is disclosed in C. Beasley & R. E. Chambers, 1998, “A New Look at Simultaneous Sources”, 60^(th) Conference and Exhibition, EAGE, Extended Abstracts, 02-38.

The various elements of the survey described above may be implemented using any suitable techniques known to the art. The illustrated embodiment uses WesternGeco Q-Marine technology that provides features such as streamer steering, single-sensor recording, large steerable calibrated source arrays, and improved shot repeatability, as well as benefits such as better noise sampling and attenuation, and the capability to record during vessel turns, all contribute to the improved imaging. More particularly, each of the vessels 100-103 is a Q™ vessel owned and operated by WesternGeco, the assignee hereof. Each vessel 100-103 is provided with a GPS receiver coupled to an integrated computer-based seismic navigation (TRINAV™), source controller (TRISOR™), and recording (TRIACQ™) system (collectively, TRILOGY™), none of which are separately shown. The sources 131-134 are typically TRISOR™-controlled multiple air gun sources.

The spread elements described above are deployed in a manner suitable for acquiring seismic data in what is known as a “coil”, as opposed to a “straight line” or “parallel geometery”, shoot. The spread may be a single vessel spread or a multi-vessel spread. Coil shooting using a single vessel spread is generally described in more detail in assignee's co-pending application Ser. No. 12/121,324, filed on May 15, 2008, incorporated by reference below. Multi-vessel coil shooting generally described in more detail in assignee's co-pending application Ser. No. 12/650,268, filed on an even date herewith, incorporate by reference below. However, the teachings of each of these references are modified as described below to implement the presently disclosed technique.

Coil shooting differs from conventional straight line acquisition in that the survey vessels traverse the survey on a generally curved advancing path. As illustrated in the computer rendition of FIG. 2C, rich azimuth and offset distribution is collected. A very high fold may also be obtained. As used herein the phrase “generally curved advancing path” means that the vessels and streamers travel generally in a curve, and there is an advancement in one or more of the X and Y directions, as explained further herein. The path may be expressed as a coil. The curve may be circular, oval, elliptical, figure 8, or other curved path.

FIG. 2A-FIG. 2C illustrate one particular embodiment of a single vessel coil shoot. FIG. 2A-FIG. 2B are a plan, overhead schematic view of one particular embodiment of a single vessel coil shoot 200 and a computerized rendition 210 of a plan view of the survey area 215 covered by generally circular sail lines 220 of the embodiment of FIG. 2A over time during a shooting and recording survey, respectively. FIG. 2A more particularly depicts the generally curved advancing path or sail lines 220 of a seismic source 110 and streamers 140 generally circular as illustrated by the heavy dark line. In this embodiment both the streamers 140 and the wide- or rich-azimuth source 110 are towed by the same vessel 100, although this is not required. In other words, the streamers 140 generally follow the circular sail line 220 having a radius R, where R may range from about 5,500 m to 7,000 m or more.

The sail line or path 220 is not truly circular, as once the first pass is substantially complete, the spread 230 will move slightly in the y-direction (vertical) value of DY, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. The spread may also move in the x-direction (horizontal) by a value DX. Note that “vertical” and “horizontal” are defined relative to the plane of the drawing. The Q™ technology implementation can perform this task because at least to the following features: accurate positioning system; streamer steering; and advance noise attenuation capabilities due to single sensor acquisition and fine sampling.

FIG. 2B is a computerized rendition of a plan view of the survey area covered by the generally circular sail lines 220 of the seismic spread 230 and method of FIG. 2A over time during a shooting and recording survey, where the displacement from circle to circle is DY in the vertical direction and DX in the horizontal direction. In FIG. 2B, note that several generally circular sail lines 220 (only one indicated) cover the survey area. In this example, the first generally circular sail line was acquired in the southeast (“SE”) corner of the survey. When a first generally circular sail path 220 is completed the vessel 100 (shown in FIG. 2A) moves along the tangent with a certain distance, DY, in vertical direction, and starts a new generally circular path 220. Several generally circular curved paths 220 may be acquired until the survey border is reached in the vertical direction. A new series of generally circular paths 220 may then be acquired in a similar way, but the origin will be moved with DX in the horizontal direction. This way of shooting continues until the survey area is completely covered.

The design parameters for practicing methods within the invention include the radius R of the circle, the radius being a function of the spread width and also of the coverage fold desired; DY, the roll in the y-direction; DX, the roll in the x-direction. DX and DY are functions of streamer spread width and of the coverage fold desired to be acquired. The radius R of the circle may be larger than the radius used during the turns and is a function of the streamer spread width. The radius R may range from about 5 km to about 10 km. The radius R ranges from 6 km to 7 km in one particular embodiment.

The total number of kilometers acquired over a given area depends on the circle radius R and the values DX and DY. The total number of shots acquired with the coil shooting technique disclosed herein increases with increased radius R. DX and DY may range from about 0.5 W to about 2 W, or from about 0.5 W to about W, where W is the streamer spread width. Certain embodiments where DX=DY=W give a continuity of the surface receiver coverage. Certain embodiments wherein DX=DY=0.5 W give a continuity in subsurface midpoint coverage. The values of DX and DY may be the same or different and may each range from about 500 m to about 1200 m or more. The value of DX and DY may be selected based on the survey objectives. For instance for a development type survey DX and DY should be smaller than for an exploration survey. Also, as DX and DY determine the source sampling, processing requirements should be considered when the survey is designed.

Another possibility is for a streamer vessel 100 and at least one source vessel 102 to follow a generally closed curve as illustrated schematically in FIG. 3A. The vessels themselves are not shown in FIG. 3A, only their generally advancing paths. The streamer vessel advances on a general closed curve passing through the following points: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, G, K, E, L, C, M, A. The streamer vessel starts at point A and returns to the same point. Once finished with the first path, the spread may move from point A a certain distance DX, in the x-direction, and DY, in the y-direction and a new curve will start as illustrated schematically in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B is an example of two closed curves that are separated by DX and DY distances. The way points of the second path are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1.

The closed curve could be generated as a series of tangent circles as illustrated schematically in FIG. 3C. In this method, of coil shooting acquisition, the streamer vessel traverses half of a circle and moves to the next circle (“figure 8” pattern) until the survey limit is reached. Then the vessel will traverse in reverse direction acquiring the other semi-circumferences. The next series of circles will be shifted with DX and DY in x-direction and respectively, y-direction. The extent of closed curve in one direction and the total number of closed curves acquired over an area depend on the survey size.

FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C briefly illustrate a multi-vessel coil shoot. FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C are a plan, overhead schematic view of one particular embodiment of a multi-vessel coil shoot, a computerized rendition of a plan view of the survey area covered by generally circular sail lines of the embodiment of FIG. 4A over time during a shooting and recording survey, and an azimuth-offset plot for such a survey, respectively. The survey spread 400 includes two receiver vessels 100 and two source vessels 102. Accordingly, the spread 400 comprises two streamer arrays 105. Both of the receiver vessels 100 tow a source 110 in this particular embodiment, and so the spread 400 as a whole comprises four sources 110.

The above implementations for a single vessel coil shoot shown in FIG. 2A-FIG. 2C and a multi-vessel coil shoot shown in FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C are but exemplary embodiments and alternative embodiments are plentiful as evident from the disclosure of the two applications cited above. Note that, in both the single vessel and multi-vessel coil shoots described above, the circle centers defining the sail paths 220 are not randomized. They are carefully thought out and preplanned. A great deal of effort is then expended during the survey to control the position of the various survey elements to exerted during the survey to ensure that those elements remain as true to the sail line as can possibly be attained. The presently disclosed technique takes a diametrically opposed approach—it randomizes the distribution of seismic receivers and seismic sources during a coil shoot acquisition. The invention admits variation in how this might be achieved. Two approaches will now be disclosed.

In the coil shoot surveys described above, the preplanned centers of the circles defining the sail lines 220 are uniformly distributed by the control of the increments DX, DY as shown in and discussed relative to FIG. 2B. The circle centers are typically distributed in a regular grid (square, rectangular, hexagonal). FIG. 5 illustrates a regular grid of N circle centers 500 (only one indicted) that covers a given area.

One embodiment of the proposed technique for randomization of the sources consists in randomizing the centers of the circles or ellipse focii, if the ellipse is the curve used in acquisition. Circle center randomization consists in using the method to generate Hammersley points or Halton points as circle centers. Hammersley points and Halton points have been used for quasi-Monte Carlo integration in previous research. The advantage of Hammersley points is that they are uniformly distributed and have a stochastic looking pattern. The points are generated by a deterministic formula. Halton points are similar with Hamersley points but allow incremental sampling. Tien-Tsin Wong, et al., “Sampling with Hammersley and Halton Points”, 2 Journal of Graphics Tools pp 9-24 (1997).

The randomized circle centers can be identified by first determining the number of circles, N, for a certain survey area based on the processing requirements. Once the number N is determined, this number and the coordinates of the corners of survey area ((x₁,y₁), (x₂,y₁), (x₂,y₂) and (x₁,y₂)) are used to generate N Hammersley or Halton points in (x,y) coordinates. FIG. 6 shows the Hammersley point distribution for the circle centers 600 (only one indicated) corresponding to the regular grid shown in FIG. 5.

In a second embodiment, the centers of the circles may remain uniformly distributed in the manner illustrated above with respect to FIG. 2A-FIG. 2C and FIG. 4A-FIG. 4C while permitting the streamers 140 in which the seismic receivers 156 are mounted to drift while controlling crossline streamer separation. Thus, the spread controller (not shown) does not steer the streamers 140 to follow the pre-plot sail line; but steers the streamers 140 only to maintain constant streamer separation. Environmental conditions, such as the marine currents, will affect the streamer shape and location of the streamer vs. the pre-plot line and this will randomize the receivers 156. FIG. 7A-FIG. 7B illustrate a random shot distribution and a random receiver distribution, respectively, obtained this way during a coil acquisition shoot.

The presently disclosed technique admits variation in the manner in which the seismic receiver and seismic source locations may be implemented. For example, the two embodiments presented immediately above are not necessarily mutually exclusive and can be combined in various ways in still other embodiments. Other variations may become apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a “snapshot” during the acquisition described above for a streamer vessel 100 as it traverses its respective sail line 220. For the sake of clarity, and so as not to obscure this aspect of the invention, some detail is omitted. For example, only the receiver vessel 100, streamer array 105, and source 110 are shown because the operation of the other spread elements can readily be extrapolated therefrom. Some elements of the streamer 140, namely the positioning devices, are likewise omitted for the same reason.

FIG. 8 also shows a subterranean geological formation 830. The geological formation 830 presents a seismic reflector 845. As those in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate, geological formations under survey can be much more complex. For instance, multiple reflectors presenting multiple dipping events may be present. FIG. 8 omits these additional layers of complexity for the sake of clarity and so as not to obscure the present invention.

Still referring to FIG. 8, the seismic source 110 generates a plurality of seismic survey signals 825 in accordance with conventional practice as the survey vessel 100 tows the streamers 140 across the area to be surveyed in predetermined coil pattern described above. The seismic survey signals 825 propagate and are reflected by the subterranean geological formation 830. The receivers 156 detect the reflected signals 835 from the geological formation 830 in a conventional manner. The receivers 156 then generate data representative of the reflections 835, and the seismic data is embedded in electromagnetic signals.

The signals generated by the receivers 156 are communicated to the data collection unit 200. The data collection unit 200 collects the seismic data for subsequent processing. The data collection unit 200 may process the seismic data itself, store the seismic data for processing at a later time, transmit the seismic data to a remote location for processing, or some combination of these things.

The randomization technique disclosed above can be used in other types of marine surveys such as, for example, controlled sources electromagnetic surveys (“CSEM”). In a CSEM survey at least one “vertical” electromagnetic (“EM”) source is towed by a marine vessel. EM receivers are also towed by either the same marine vessel or by a different marine vessel. In this manner, the EM source is towed along with the EM receivers through a body of water to perform CSEM surveying.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary marine survey arrangement that includes a marine vessel 900 that tows an assembly 902 of a vertical EM source 904 (made up of source electrodes 934 and 936), electric field receivers (made up of electrodes 940, 942, 944, 946, 950, 952, 954, and 956), and magnetometers 908. The electric field receivers are used to measure electric fields. The magnetometers 908 (either 1-2-3 components or total field magnetometers) are used to measure magnetic fields. The magnetometers 908 can be used to measure the magnetic fields at various offsets. The electric field receivers and magnetometers collectively are considered EM receivers (for measuring both electrical and magnetic fields).

The electrical cable 930 includes a first source electrode 934, and the cable 932 includes a second source electrode 936, where the source electrodes 934 and 936 are spaced apart by the distance D. The source electrodes 934 and 936 are part of the vertical EM source 904. The source electrodes 934 and 936 are aligned above and below each other such that when a current is passed between them (with the direction of current flow depicted with double arrows 938), a vertical electric dipole is created.

In operation, as the marine vessel 900 tows the assembly 902 through the body of water 914, the controller 924 can send commands to the electronic module 910 to cause activation of the vertical EM source 904. Activation of the vertical EM source 904 causes EM fields according to the TM mode to be generated and to be propagated into the subterranean structure 920. EM signals that are affected by the subterranean structure 920 are detected by the electric field receivers and the magnetometers 908 of the assembly 902. As noted above, the electric field receivers made up of the receiver electrodes 940, 942, 944, 946, 950, 952, 954, and 956 measure the electric fields, with receiver electrodes along each cable measuring horizontal electric fields, and two vertically spaced receiver electrodes on respective cables 930 and 932 measuring vertical electric fields. Also, the magnetometers 908 measure magnetic fields.

The random sampling survey technique disclosed herein can also be employed in a CSEM survey such as that described above. One example of a CSEM survey, including the attendant apparatus, is disclosed and claimed in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/174,179, filed Jul. 15, 2008, incorporated by reference below.

The random sampling acquisition technique disclosed herein can also be applied for what are known as “node acquisition.” The nodes are deployed on the ocean bottom, typically with a remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”) and can record the pressure field in the water with the hydrophone and the particle motion at the sea floor in x, y, and z directions with three orthogonal geophones (a multicomponent geophone). One example of a generic node 1000 is presented in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 11, the nodes 1000 (only one indicated) are deployed in a regular grid with an interval of 400 m. Shot points 1100 (only one indicated) are also shown in FIG. 11. This grid interval of the nodes 1000 is larger than the sampling requirements based on Nyquist criteria. Deployment of the nodes 1000 with a smaller grid interval could be done from a technical perspective, but the acquisition could be very expensive, especially in deep water operations.

In most geophysical surveys, the source or receivers are interchangeable for data analysis purposes. A survey location is used to refer a location where a source or a receiver resides during a survey. In each survey, there are two sets of survey locations, one set for receivers and one set for sources. If a location from one set is used for placing a source, then all locations in that set are used for sources; all locations in the other set are used for placing receivers. If a source resides at a survey location, then it may be referred to as a source location; similarly, if a receiver resides at a survey location, then it is a receiver location.

The concept of random sampling acquisition can be used to randomize the source location, or receiver locations or both. Typically, only one is randomized, i.e. only one set of the survey locations are randomized; the other set of survey locations are not randomized, i.e. using the conventional regularly sampled locations. This means that if the randomized survey locations are used for placing sources, the source locations are randomized while the receiver locations, which use the other non-randomized set of survey locations, are not randomized. Similarly, if the randomized survey locations are used for placing receivers, the receiver locations are randomized while the source locations, which use the other non-randomized set of survey locations, are not randomized.

To achieve the best result, both sets of survey locations, i.e. both source and receiver locations can be randomized.

The above discussions are mainly focused on the applications of the random sampling methods in towed marine seismic environment. The random sampling methods are equally applicable in other surveying environments, such as on land or transition zone, or for VSP surveys. Another way to view the random sampling methods is to view the types of acquisition systems: one type uses cables where receivers are connected by wires and the other type use nodes where the nodes can be independently positioning. In some wireless land surveys, the wireless receivers can operate independently from other receivers. The system operates very similar to a nodes system and can be regarded as a node system in this application. Random sampling could be applied for both types of systems.

Random Sampling for Cable Systems

A generic recording land acquisition system with cables is shown in FIG. 12. The cables could be deployed along straight lines as is shown in FIG. 12 or can be deployed in a jittered manner around the straight line, as is shown in FIG. 13. The amount of jittering depends of the physical length of the cable connecting two consecutive receivers (e.g. geophones). As shown in FIG. 12, dc is the nominal receiver interval; dl=dc+slack is the physical length of the cable connecting two consecutive receivers. The physical length dl is always greater than the nominal group interval. The projection of the interval between consecutive receivers on the nominal straight line varies as a function of the angle between the straight line and local cable direction (FIG. 13). The variation of the projected receiver interval from the nominal group interval, dc, defines the receiver jittering. As shown in FIG. 13, the actual distance between receiver A and receiver B is AB=dr1*cos (δ1); the distance between receiver B and receiver C is BC=dr2*cos (δ2). The actual distance between two receivers can be a random length, only limited by the physical cable length of d1 between the two receivers.

In this example, the cable system is used for receivers. If the cable system is used for sources, the source locations can be randomized in the same way.

Random Sampling for the Node Systems (Including Wireless Receiver System)

The main component of the node acquisition systems is the autonomous node which contains a receiver (typically a geophone, but can have other sensors measuring other physical properties), batteries, control circuitry, A/D converter, filter memory and a high accuracy clock. The nodes can be deployed at predefined random locations. Since the nodes are not limited by cable length, they have more freedom as to how and where they are positioned. In one method, the predefined random locations are determined based on Hamersley points or Halton points.

Typically the nodes are deployed in a regular grid defined by the grid size in X-direction, dx, and the grid size in Y-direction, dy. To determine the random locations we need the coordinates (X1,Y1), (X2,Y1), (X2,Y2) and (X1,Y2) of the survey area corners and the desired number of receiver points. The (x,y) coordinates will be calculated for each node location. To verify that every grid cell is populated with a receiver, the receiver locations will be displayed on the desired grid (FIG. 14). FIGS. 5 and 6 show a slightly different way of selecting randomized node positions as described earlier. Dependant on survey design criteria and for a given survey area the number of random locations may be selected as more than, equal to, or less than the number of locations required for a regular grid over the same area

Node systems for receivers are often used in marine seismic survey or marine CSEM surveys, where the receiver nodes are dropped to ocean bottom at predefined locations.

The same method used for node system can be used for randomization of the source location. The sources used for land seismic acquisition or for onshore 3D VSP can be considered as receivers of node system. Number of sources is calculated based on the required source density (e.g. number of sources per square km) for the proposed seismic survey. One way to determine the source locations is to use Hamersley or Halton point method. Any type of land seismic source, Vibroseis, explosive sources (dynamite) or impulsive sources, can be randomized this way.

Random Sampling of the Sources for Transition Zone Seismic Surveys and Offshore 3D VSP Acquisition, or Marine CSEM Acquisition

In a marine survey, a source vessel equipped with one or two sources (e.g. airgun) can be used to acquire seismic data for shallow water marine acquisition (Transition zones) or for 3D offshore VSP. One way for source randomization is to sail with the source vessel in a pattern of overlapping circles as is shown in FIG. 15 or previously discussed FIGS. 3 and 4. The circle radius, the number of circles and the shot interval are determined based on the shot density for the proposed survey. The circle center distribution is random and the coordinates of the circle centers can be calculated using Hamersley or Halton point method. An example of shot distribution for a 3D VSP offshore survey is shown in FIG. 16. Any survey shape can be accommodated using this method and this has a positive effect on survey efficiency. This is particularly important for 3D VSP survey. The typical deployment of the sources for 3D VSP is along a spiral. However, if the required area covered with source has a different shape, the spiral shooting could be inefficient. FIG. 17 shows one scenario where the spiral shooting shot distribution is very inefficient. Using the overlapping circles as shown in FIG. 14, the desired VSP shot distribution, the white contour in FIG. 17, can be covered with less overshooting.

In this disclosure we discussed only Hamersley and Halton method for generating a random distribution of survey locations, i.e. locations for receivers and sources. However, other methods can be applied as well. For example, jittered sampling method or Poisson sampling with a minimum distance are stochastic sampling methods that are used in image processing (Dippe, 1992). Hamersley and Halton methods are deterministic type methods that generate random data. Halton method has the advantage that additional random data can be added to an existent random distribution. This feature could be very useful when we want to increase the density of shots or receiver for an existent randomly sampled seismic survey or VSP survey.

For marine CSEM survey, the same method discussed above can be used, simply replaces the seismic source/receiver with a CSEM source/receiver.

The possible benefits of methods of the presently disclosed technique typically become manifest during the processing, although some may be exhibited during the survey. Possible benefits may include:

-   -   more accurate reconstruction of the seismic wavefield;     -   more accurate interpolation of seismic data;     -   reduced acquisition footprints on the final migrated data; and     -   the possibility to image seismic data using tessellation and         weight integration         Note that not all embodiments will necessarily exhibit all of         the benefits discussed herein. To the extent that various         embodiments manifest some of the benefits, not all of them will         exhibit them to the same degree.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. In the claims, no clauses are intended to be in the means-plus-function format allowed by 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6 unless “means for” is explicitly recited together with an associated function. “Means for” clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

As use herein, the phrase “capable of” as used herein is a recognition of the fact that some functions described for the various parts of the disclosed apparatus are performed only when the apparatus is powered and/or in operation. Those in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will appreciate that the embodiments illustrated herein include a number of electronic or electro-mechanical parts that, to operate, require electrical power. Even when provided with power, some functions described herein only occur when in operation. Thus, at times, some embodiments of the apparatus of the invention are “capable of” performing the recited functions even when they are not actually performing them—i.e., when there is no power or when they are powered but not in operation.

The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference for the noted teaching as if set forth herein verbatim:

-   -   Tien-Tsin Wong, et al., “Sampling with Hammersley and Halton         Points”, 2 Journal of Graphics Tools pp 9-24 (1997);     -   Gilles Hennenfent & Felix J. Herrmann, “Random Sampling: New         Insights Into the Reconstruction of Coarsely-Sampled Wavefields”         SEG/San Antonio 2007 Annual Meeting, pp. 2575-2579 (2007);     -   Gilles Hennenfent & Felix J. Herrmann, “Simply Denoise:         Wavefield Reconstruction Via Jittered Undersampling” 73         Geophysics V19-V28. (2008);     -   U.S. application Ser. No. 11/335,365, entitled, “Methods and         Systems for Efficiently Acquiring Towed Streamer Seismic         Surveys”, and filed Jan. 19, 2006, in the name of the inventors         Nicolae Moldoveanu and Alan Strudley for its teachings regarding         the design of circular, coil shoot sail lines;     -   U.S. application Ser. No. 12/351,156, entitled, “Acquiring         Azimuth Rich Seismic Data in the Marine Environment Using a         Regular Sparse Pattern of Continuously Curved Sail Lines”, and         filed Jan. 9, 2009, in the name of the inventors David Ian Hill         et al. for its teachings regarding the design of circular, coil         shoot sail lines;     -   U.S. application Ser. No. 12/121,324, entitled “Methods for         Efficiently Acquiring Wide-Azimuth Towed Streamer Seismic Data”,         and filed on May 15, 2008, in the name of the inventors Nicolae         Moldoveanu and Steven Fealy for its teachings regarding the         design of circular, coil shoot sail lines;     -   U.S. application Ser. No. 12/174,179, entitled “Surveying Using         Vertical Electromagnetic Sources that are Towed Along with         Survey Receivers”, and filed on Jul. 15, 2008, in the name of         the inventors David L. Alumbaugh, et al. for its teachings         regarding CSEM surveys;

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/180,154, entitled, “Multi-vessel Coil Shooting Acquisition, and filed on May 21, 2009, in the name of the inventors Nicolae Moldoveanu and Steven Fealy (multi-vessel coil shooting);

-   -   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/218,681, entitled,         “Multi-vessel Coil Shooting Acquisition, and filed on Jun. 18,         2009, in the name of the inventors Nicolae Moldoveanu and Steven         Fealy (multi-vessel coil shooting); and     -   U.S. application Ser. No. 12/650,268, entitled, “Multi-vessel         Coil Shooting Acquisition, and filed on an even date herewith in         the name of the inventors Nicolae Moldoveanu and Steven Fealy         (multi-vessel coil shooting).

This concludes the detailed description. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below, it is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below. 

What is claimed:
 1. A method for designing a geophysical survey having at least one source and at least one receiver, wherein the geophysical survey comprises a plurality of survey locations for the at least one source and the at least one receiver within a survey area, the method comprising: randomizing a first set of survey locations from the plurality of survey locations, wherein randomizing the first set of survey locations comprises randomizing the positions of at least one circle center defining a sail line used in the geophysical survey.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: randomizing the survey locations in a second set of survey locations from the plurality of survey locations.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: setting the survey locations in a second set of survey locations from the plurality of survey locations in a non-random pattern.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of survey locations are for receiver locations.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of survey locations are for source locations.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the geophysical survey is selected from the group consisting of a marine survey, a land survey, a transitional zone survey, a seismic survey, a Controlled Source Electromagnetic (CSEM) survey, a borehole seismic survey, and a Vertical Seismic Profile (VSP) survey.
 7. A method for designing a geophysical survey having at least one source and at least one receiver, wherein the geophysical survey comprises a plurality of survey locations for the at least one source and the at least one receiver within a survey area, the method comprising: randomizing a set of survey locations from the plurality of survey locations using a method selected from the group consisting of a Hammersley and Halton point method, a jittering method and a Poisson sampling method.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: acquiring from the at least one receiver data regarding a subsurface earth structure in the survey area.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: processing the acquired data to determine the subsurface earth structure in the survey area.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring from the at least one receiver a geophysical surveying dataset indicative of a subsurface earth structure in the survey area.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the geophysical survey comprises a coil shoot in a towed array marine seismic survey.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein randomizing the survey locations comprises: determining a quantity of circle centers for use in a non-random sampling; and distributing the determined quantity of circle centers in a uniform distribution.
 13. A method for designing a geophysical survey having at least one source and at least one receiver, wherein the geophysical survey comprises a plurality of survey locations for the at least one source and the at least one receiver within a survey area, the method comprising: randomizing a set of survey locations from the plurality of survey locations, wherein randomizing the set of survey locations comprises determining survey locations to be positions on overlapping circles, wherein the centers of the overlapping circles are randomized locations within the survey area.
 14. A geophysical survey system, comprising: a plurality of sources; a plurality of receivers; and at least one controller controlling the sources and receivers, wherein the at least one controller is configured to position the sources and the receivers at a plurality of survey locations, wherein the survey locations comprise randomized positions for at least one circle center that defines a sail line used in the geophysical survey system.
 15. The geophysical survey system of claim 14, wherein the geophysical survey system includes a cabled system where the distance between two adjacent survey locations is limited by the cable distance dl; and wherein the distance between two adjacent randomized survey locations is less than dl.
 16. The method geophysical survey system of claim 14, wherein the geophysical survey system includes a node system; and wherein average number of survey locations per unit survey area is a predetermined survey density.
 17. The geophysical survey system of claim 14, wherein a set of the survey locations are in a non-random pattern.
 18. A method for designing a geophysical survey having at least one source and at least one receiver, wherein the geophysical survey comprises a plurality of survey locations for the at least one source and the at least one receiver within a survey area, the method comprising: randomizing a set of survey locations from the plurality of survey locations, wherein randomizing the set of survey locations comprises permitting streamers in which the at least one receiver is situated to drift off their respective sail lines while maintaining a crossline streamer separation. 